Light-Wave Voice-Communication Receiver Circuit

This light-wave receiver consists of a 741 operated as a preamplifier and an LM386 operated as a power amplifier. Potentiometer R2 is the gain control. Various kinds of detectors can be used as the front end of the receiver. Phototransistors are very sensitive, but they do not work well in the presence of too much ambient light.

A 100-kQ series resistor is required if you use a phototransis-tor. Solar cells, photodiodes, and LEDs of the same semiconductor as the transmitter all work well in this circuit.